Customer Reviews

Stranded

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"Stranded" is a plot-heavy novel that packs a comedic punch.

Cooper has an eye for the absurd even in a desperate situation. Her characters go through some very tough times but there's always a ray of hope along with a laugh.

She crafts a relationship slowly, through small acts that ring true. No "there are 2 women, they have to get together" shortcuts here. The love story is very believable because it's built brick by brick.

You'll love it!

Blayne has done it again. She's crafted a romance, within some dire circumstances that leaves you guessing where the several relationships will end up.

Strong, complex characters you come to care about & Blayne's wonderful humor woven throughout, it's a book you don't want to miss.

I have always been a huge fan of Blayne Cooper. I even loved `The Road to Glory,' which my partner thought was ludicrous. Needless to say, I expected to like `Stranded' even before I read the book description or started on the first page - and I wasn't disappointed.

Here, the author brings us lovely, straight divorcee Rachel Michaels. Although her radio talk show is very popular, Rachel wants to try new things and takes a job with a women's professional soccer team. The team sends her to Venezuela to interview their newest star recruit, Miranda Gutierrez. At the airport and ready to embark on the journey, Rachel is told she will be going with the owner's assistant, Nora Butler. Rachel suspects Nora is an administrative assistant who is sleeping with her boss. At the airport, they are told they will also both accompany Miranda on a tour of the Venezuelan wilds. Neither woman is thrilled with that proposition.

It doesn't take long for Rachel to discover Nora is the assistant general manager of the team and not just a bed-warming secretary. She and Nora hit it off until Nora hits on her - and comes on very strong. Unexpectedly, Nora comes out with both guns blaring trying to get Rachel into her bed. Both are terribly embarrassed about the whole thing the next morning. Gee - what a way to start a new job!

Things only get worse when Rachel and Nora meet Miranda. Or, better said, find her having a roll in the hay (literally) in her father's barn with a sexy stud. They both panic because the girl is only 17 and they thought they were getting a clean-cut, innocent teen. They are even more distraught when they discover Miranda secretly married this guy so she wouldn't have to leave him behind. Even with all this, the adventure hasn't really started.

The three women set off on their wilderness adventure and almost immediately find themselves in trouble. Their jeep is washed off the road by a heavy rainstorm and the driver is killed. There is no cell service, no real roads, no way to get help. They learn to rely on each other to survive. In the meantime, the relationship between Rachel and Nora develops until neither can resist. The initially disgusted Miranda begins to call them Mama and Papa, and somehow they pull through. As much as I've said here, it's their survival journey that kept this reader engaged.

Bottom Line - There is so much substance to this book it is hard to say what I liked best. Regardless of your usual reading preference, this story has something for everyone to enjoy.

I love Stranded. The book is well written, humorous, romantic, and one of my favorites of the year. I would highly recommend it.

This was an enjoyable romance, except that at the end, the author tried to eat her cake and have it too.

To avoid spoilers, the main character is struggling with her self-esteem because of a minor body issue throughout the book. She tends to feel no one could possibly really want her because of it. Many characters insist otherwise. Throughout the story it seems like she might be gaining some self-acceptance and realising that she can be loved - and then at the ending, that minor body issue is 'cured' and she makes it clear that she's devoting a lot of time and effort to keeping it that way.

I'm sure this was meant to be part of a happy ending and we're meant to feel glad for the character, but it completely breaks the moral that was developing throughout the story and makes her seem shallow. For me, this meant I ended on a frustrated note, angry with the heroine, instead of rejoicing at her good fortune.

It's the old failure of Beauty and the Beast - it's crazy to have a moral about looking beyond appearances and then have the reward for that be an improved appearance!

Fun, fast-paced, and well-developed characters. Truly a treat. 3-dimensional and richly described scenarios..and subtlely comedic, you'll find yourselves chuckling. Well worth the $ and time spent. I will have to purchase other Blayne Cooper books now!

I've always been a huge fan of Blayne Cooper/Advocate since the 1990s and have read all of Blayne's work. However, I was kinda cool on Blayne's last novel (Hard Times, a women in prison story) which I found a bit too bleak. That's why I was so very pleased to discover that Blayne has gotten back to writing what she's so good at, namely incredibly funny, highly entertaining, and well-written stories, which what her new novel 'Stranded' is.

Like the title of this book says, the story revolves around a divorced middle aged radio personality who gets a contract to be the announcer of a new major league woman's soccer team. As part of the deal, she directed to fly down to Venezuela with the sexy female Vice President of the team (who kinda looks like Evangeline Lilly) and meet their new star soccer player. Once they get down there, mayhem abounds, and the three women end up a perilous/survivor situation in the jungles of Venezuela. The only thing I would have changed in this story was to extend the ending by about 10 pages, and give the reader more sweet love! This book is definitely a keeper!!

This was the first book by Blayne Cooper that I've read and I definately enjoyed it. There were some holes in the plot, but it was an interesting premise and enjoyable to read. I'm planning on reading more from her!

Good read, not erotic overload. Story is well written with some added humor which works for this tale. A growing soccer team has recruited a venezuelan younster and a broadcaster for a special series of interviews. The characters are laid out pretty well, though it is the typical, lesbian falls for straight woman, straight woman falls for lesbian scenario, which can get old. But it is enjoyable despite this. Cooper keeps it plausible and fun at times. If you like lesbian fiction, you will enjoy this.

Rachel Michaels has a very successful morning radio talk show with her ex-husband, but she's not satisfied with the job. Taking a job as the broadcaster for Denver's new professional women's soccer team seems like a good idea until she's told she has to fly to Venezuela to do a story on the hot new recruit Miranda Gutierrez. Her traveling companion will be Nora Butler, the team assistant director, and Rachel is sure Nora has a personal relationship with the team's owner. Things go well meeting Miranda and her family until the three women discover plans have been made for them to go to a remote area for a bonding experience. On the way there an accident leaves them stranded in the jungle and no one knows where they are. Rachel, Nora and Miranda learn to depend on each other as they trek through the jungle and fight for their lives. Rachel also discovers she has feelings for Nora who seems to blow hot and cold towards her. Fighting to survive and fighting to understand Nora make for very stressful days for Rachel.

Stranded is an adventure story that keeps the tension high and the danger ever present. When Nora falls sick on their trip through the jungle, the reader can sense the concern the other women have for her safety. The romance between Rachel and Nora is entertaining, but it's the beauty of the Venezuelan wilderness that really stars in this book. The personality clashes are interesting to observe, especially as Miranda changes from a rather self-centered teenager to someone who realizes she has to respond to the needs of others. The reader will sense that she's going to be an even better soccer player because of what she has experienced with these two women. The drama comes out of Rachel and Nora trying to figure out exactly what their relationship is going to be and that's not resolved until the very end of the book.

Blayne Cooper has written several books and shows her experience in crafting this story. She develops the characters gradually and leaves enough surprises to keep the reader wondering what is going to happen. The dialogue is handled well and balanced with the narrative sections. Cooper tells an engaging story and keeps the reader turning the pages. You can't ask for anything better in a book.